Pray-Jay-Z/Maxwell

[ti:pray] [ar:jay-z] [al:263915] [00:20.77]Mind state of a gangster from the 40's, [00:22.30]Meets the business mind of motown's Berry Gordy, [00:25.77]Turned crack rock into a chain of 40/40's, [00:27.41]Sorry my jewerly is so gaudy, slid into the party with my new pair of Mauri's, [00:32.85]America, meet the gangster Shawn Corey, hey young world, [00:36.53]Wanna hear a story, [00:38.25]Close your eyes and you can pretend you're me, [00:40.69]I'm cut from the cloth of the Kennedys, Frank Sinatra havin' dinner with the Genovese', [00:45.18]The is the genesis of a nemisis, [00:48.52]Mother America not witnessed since, [00:51.25]The harlem renaissance birthed black businessman, [00:52.72]This is the tale of lost innocence, [00:56.73]And the incense burns and the turntables turn, [00:59.69]And that Al Green plays, [01:02.11]I see my mothers afro, as mama taps her toes, [01:04.52]As she rolls her j's, [01:07.16]And my papa just left the house, [01:08.57]In search of a killer of my uncle Ray, and she's trying to calm her nerves, [01:13.45]As i observe this is just one day, [01:17.28]And what tomorrow has in store, [01:18.61]We can never be sure, so all we can do is... pray [01:32.61]As i head to my home-room, [01:33.73]I observe the ruins, d**e needles on the ground, [01:37.65]I hear a car go vroom, [01:39.09]Drug dealer in the bm with the top down, [01:41.91]As the girls start to giggle, [01:44.09]I ask why you laugh?? [01:45.35]They say you're to little, [01:47.84]One day you'll understand, [01:48.51]When you become a man, [01:50.57]Bout things you have to get you, [01:52.27]Fast forward freeze frame, [01:53.06]On my pistol fistful of dollars, [01:55.00]Ignorance is so blessful, [01:56.96]I ain't choose this life, [01:58.31]This life chose me, [01:59.66]Around here it's the sh*t, [02:01.02]That you just do, [02:02.50]I just left school, the same bm is pulled over, [02:05.56]By the boys dressed in blue, [02:07.43]They had their guns drawn, [02:08.45]Screaming "just move", [02:09.57]Or is there something else you suggest we can do?, [02:12.09]He made his way to the drunk, [02:13.91]Opened it like "huh", a treasure chest was removed, [02:17.67]Cops said he'll be back next month, [02:19.67]What we call curpt, he call's payin' dues, [02:23.45]Now when rules is blurred, as they were, [02:25.89]What am i to do but ....pray. [02:28.52]Pray the lord forgives me, [02:29.91]Pray he guides me for what i'm 'bout to go through.... pray [02:33.59]Anywhere there's oppression, [02:44.04]The drug profession, flourishes like beverages, [02:47.37]Refreshing, sweet taste of sin, [02:50.23]Everything i seen made me everything i am, [02:52.74]Bad drug dealer or victim, i beg, [02:55.23]What came first, moving the chickens or the egg?, [02:58.59]This is why i be so fresh, [03:00.20]I'm trying to beat life, 'cause i can't cheat death, [03:03.27]Treat shame like shamelessness, aim, [03:05.82]Stainless at anuses, [03:06.65]You know the game this is, [03:09.69]Move coke like pepsi, don't matter what brand name it is, [03:14.01]I stand behind mine, everything i do i'm a man behind mine, [03:17.96]I'm not an angel, I'm sure, [03:20.64]But every night before i lay, I drop my knees to the floor, [03:23.19]And I pray.